Southern Sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)
Kingdom: Animalia Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Mustelidae
Listing Status: and
General Information
Sea Otters are about four feet long and weigh an average of 65 pounds for males and 45 pounds for females. They’ve got strong canines and strong molars to tear and crush their food. Their lung capacity is 2.5 times the size of land mammals of the same size. They have good eyesight and use their whiskers to sense vibrations in the water. They’re known for the use of tools when eating. Because they love mollusks, sea otters will use rocks as hammers and anvils to help open the shells. Because they have no blubber, they must eat 25% of their body weight in food to maintain their high metabolism. Grooming is important as it forces air bubbles into their fur that acts as insulation (Friends of the Sea Otter).
Population detail
The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the Southern Sea otter
- Population location: Entire, except where listed below
Listing status: Threatened
- States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur: California
- Countries in which the this population is known to occur: Mexico
- Population location: All areas subject to U.S. jurisdiction south of Pt. Conception, CA (34026.9' N. Lat.) [Note--status governed by Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500.]
Listing status: Experimental Population, Non-Essential
- States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur: California
| Status | Date Listed | Lead Region | Where Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/14/1977 | California/Nevada Region (Region 8) | except where EXPN | |
| 08/11/1987 | California/Nevada Region (Region 8) | south of Pt. Conception, CA |
» Federal Register Documents
| Date | Citation Page | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 03/25/2009 | 74 FR 12878 12883 | Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada |
| 02/06/2004 | 69 FR 5861 5863 | 90-day Finding on a Petition to Delist the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) |
| 04/03/2003 | 68 FR 16305 16306 | Notice of Availability of the Final Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) |
| 01/22/2001 | 66 FR 6649 6652 | Notice of Policy Regarding Capture and Removal of Southern Sea Otters in a Designated Management Zone |
| 02/08/2000 | 65 FR 6221 6222 | Notice of Availability of a Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) for Review and Comment |
| Date | Citation Page | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 09/27/1988 | 53 FR 37577 37581 | NOAA--Technical Amendments to Sea Otter Translocation Regulations; 53 FR 37577-37581 |
| 08/11/1987 | 52 FR 29754 29784 | Establishment of Experimental Population of Southern Sea Otters; 52 FR 29754-29784 |
| 08/15/1986 | 51 FR 29384 | Proposed Establishment of Experimental Population of Southern Sea Otters; Notice of Availability; 51 FR 29384 |
» Recovery
Recovery Plan Information Search| Date | Title | Plan Action Status | Plan Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04/03/2003 | Final Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) | View Implementation Progress | Final Revision 1 |
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03/25/2009 | 74 FR 12878 12883 | Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada | |
| 04/03/2003 | 68 FR 16305 16306 | Notice of Availability of the Final Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) | |
| 02/08/2000 | 65 FR 6221 6222 | Notice of Availability of a Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) for Review and Comment |
» Critical Habitat
No critical habitat rules have been published for the Southern Sea otter.
» Conservation Plans
No conservation plans have been created for Southern Sea otter
» Petitions
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02/06/2004 | 69 FR 5861 5863 | 90-day Finding on a Petition to Delist the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) | |
| 07/13/1984 | 49 FR 28583 28585 | Notice of Finding on 6 Petitions; 49 FR 28583-28585 | |
| 06/14/1983 | 48 FR 27273 27274 | Findings on Certain Petitions; 48 FR 27273-27274 | |
| 02/15/1983 | 48 FR 6752 675 | Findings on Certain Petitions and Reviews of Status for Several Species; 48 FR 6752-6753 |
» Life History
No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.
» Other Resources
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
